Spring Garden Beauty

I've never experienced spring season but I fancy thinking that I will enjoy it with pretty flowers in bloom and unmistakable crispness in the air. Taking off from my spring fantasies, I came up with this green and pink combo. Think carnations and pink roses in bloom. I like pink and green because it's girly and gives off a fresh look.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Feels like spring! :)[/caption]

Products used:

FACE

1. Avon Ideal Luminous concealer in Almond

2. Avon Ideal Luminous Pressed Powder in Neutral

3. Fanny Serrano Powder Blush in Silky Coral

EYES

4. ELF Makeup Clutch

5. ELF Shimmer Eyeliner Pencil

6. Majolica Majorca Lash Expander Plus

LIPS

7. Avon Simply Pretty Colorbrights Lipstick in Pampering Pink

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Swatches for you.[/caption]

Some tips in applying eyeshadow:

1. You might want to use a primer especially if you have oily lids.

2. ELF shadows are not very pigmented when applied dry. Applied with a light hand, the effect is quite sheer. I discovered that to have more color and to bring out the pigment, I can wipe my ELF eyeshadow brush (yes, ELF too!) with a baby wipe then dip the brush into the palette. It works! :) (newbie ko, 'no?:P)

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288"] The "tools" - with and without flash[/caption]

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="288"] Pampering pink - for pretty in pink lips :)[/caption]

What color combination would you use for spring vibes? :-)

Of brights and reds.

Bright lipstick. Red lipstick. The thought of it is scary.

What if too many people stare in the streets? What if I draw too much attention to myself?

What if I look cheap? What if I turn out looking like a clown?

All valid thoughts and concerns, girl. But the good news is, yes you can wear a bright shade on your lips and not have to worry about those things I mentioned above.

Now I'm in no way an expert but I was also once afraid of trying out a bold shade. I would often just stick to peaches, nudes and neutral pinks. But I found myself lately saying "what the hello" and swiping on a bright shade of red on my lips.

[caption id="" align="alignleft" width="288" caption="Ta-Da! Not bad, right?"][/caption]

Ta-da! Not bad, right?
So how will I be wearing bright lipsticks from hereon bases on my experience?

1. Keep the rest of the face simple.
Simple means a nice canvas (lucky girls with naturally clear skin; for me who is not so blessed, I need to conceal then put on powder foundation). Simple also means minimal everything. (more on this on the following points)

2. Simple means a neutral shade of blush. For the photo above, I used Fanny Serrano blush in Silky Coral (doesn't really show in the photo, right? Too bad, the photo got a little overexposed). I also contoured a bit as my face tends to get a bit too wide for my taste, hehe. Just don't overdo the contouring, you don't want to end up looking TOO thin (as in gaunt?).

3. Simple also means neutral eyes but with a generous swipe of mascara. Again, for the photo above, I used a neutral set (browns, taupes and light pink) then put on brown eyeliner.

[caption id="" align="alignright" width="288" caption="Avon Charming Pomegranate lipstick with Pretty when Pinched Cheek Tint and Avon Lash Extend Mascara"][/caption]

Don't forget to curl your lashes too! I think this is a step that must not be missed everyday; it really does wonders! Then put on a good mascara to up the glam factor. I used Avon Lash Extend Mascara in the photo. You can actually skip the shadow and liner and just curl and put on mascara.

4. Put on lip liner before putting on the lipstick. The liner will help prevent premature bleeding of the color. We all know how dyahe it can be to have our lipstick all over our mouth and its edges, yikes!

5. Put on your best-est face of confidence and show the world how pretty you are with a bright lipstick! How you will carry this look will be essential in enjoying it and upping your confidence level.

When will you start wearing your own red lipstick? :)

March Food Trip!

"One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating."
~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti

Ah, food. It lights up my eyes! :) I'm such a foodie and all of my friends know that, I think. Hehe. I love to eat. And can i just say it again, I really love to eat. :D I think 80% of my mobile uploads in Facebook are food photos. Heehee!

So without further ado, I present to you my gastronomic conquests (lol) for the month of March.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Xiao Long Pao from Sze Chuan House"][/caption]

 Discovered this gem of a restaurant just a street away from our office. Good food, reasonable prices and efficient service. I daresay the food is comparable to Emerald Garden! :) The xiao long pao is a little too big for my taste though. I can't eat it in a single bite, that's how big it is (or how small my mouth is). And just a tip: eat it while it's hot and as soon as it's served.

Try their Sze Chuan Chicken too, it's the best I've tried there so far. :) Will definitely be back to order other dishes.

Sze Chuan House is in Aloha Hotel along the service road in Roxas Boulevard and across Ospital ng Maynila with ample parking space for its customers. They are open 11:00 am to 2:30 pm and 6:00 pm to 10:30 pm everyday.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Torta di Ricotta-Salsa di Caramello (?) from Cibo"][/caption]

 My officemates and I went to Manila FAME this month at SMX (different post for that) and had a quick bite in Cibo for lunch. I ordered a tuna sandwich since I couldn't make up my mind which pasta to order. The sandwich is surprisingly good and this is from someone who doesn't like to eat bread. But I digress, the highlight was the dessert we ordered. I'm not sure if it's Cibo's Torta di Ricotta-Salsa di Caramello (heehee, sorry i forgot the name!). It was a cheesecake topped with caramel glaze and grapes on the side. Yum! The sweet-sour tang of the grapes matched the velvety smoothness of the cheesecake and the sweetness of the caramel. Eccellente!

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Dalandan Juice from Cibo"][/caption]

 I heart Cibo. Even they drinks are eccellente! Tried the dalandan juice because I was trying to chase away the sniffles. A bit pricey for a juice but worth every peso! :) It tastes like freshly squeezed dalandan (no ready to drink formulas) with just the right amount of sweetness and the right amount of ice.

[caption id="" align="aligncenter" width="480" caption="Lemon Yakult Milk Tea from SIP"][/caption]

 SIP Milk Tea opens in SM Manila! So far, I've tried Lemon Yakult Tea and Handmade Taro Tea. The verdict? 5 stars! Lemon Yakult has real lemon slices which gives it an authentic lemon zest. :) Handmade Taro, on the other hand, is for those who like a sweeter drink. Oh and I love their pearls, so chewy! Lol. :D So looking forward to try other variants.

Visit their website at www.idloveasip.com or Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/sipmilktea. You may also follow them on Twitter, @sipmilktea.

I really should be more diligent in posting my photos. I talk way too much for one post! Lol. Cibo, Sip and Sze Chuan House for March. Not bad. I'm excited for April! :)

How about you, did you have a gastronomic experience this month?